Food Sources
Man and woman not need shop at chain grocery stores alone. This habit has been instilled in us since we remember sitting in the front of the metal carts as our mothers pushed us along. Although convenient and most definitely part of the food sourcing line up, this section will help introduce to you the array of other places you can source your food, from farmer’s markets, natural food specialty stores (local or online), and even your own backyard.
Local Farm Markets - Chickens and Eggs
Your next shopping challenge - Visit a local farm market. You can start
by visiting Organic.org
to locate a farm market near you.
Local farm markets are a great way to source food. Beyond the wonderful
sights and smells, a visit to the farm market can be a recreational activity
for the whole family, allowing the T.V. set to cool down while reintroducing
a tradition of food sourcing that has been practiced for centuries. After
a farm market visit, people report a feeling of connectedness with community
along with a sense of relaxation and fulfillment, as experiencing a hungry
crowd of foodshoppers amidst a sea of brightly colored produce and intoxicating
aromas of freshly baked goods deeply stimulate the senses.
One place to start mixing up your food source is eggs. Eggs from local
chickens are nutritionally superior to the factory-farmed grocery store
mass-produced egg. The proof is in the yolk color. The yolks of local
eggs are rich in hue, almost orange in color, whereas factory farmed eggs
can have very pale yolks. Chickens that have access to grass, sunshine
and bugs along with their feed, contain higher amounts of nutrients and
Omega-3 fatty acids than their counterparts. Eggs are an easily digestible
protein for most and can be used countless ways in recipes. Most farm
market vendors who sell eggs, also sell the chicken (whole or in parts).
Locally raised chickens are generally raised in humane conditions and
because they are not living in close quarters with hundreds of others
they are not treated with the gamut of antibiotics that factory-farmed
chickens are. Don’t be fooled by grocery store labels that read “Natural”
or “No-Added Antibiotics”.
Antibiotics are administered on a normal basis within these factory conditions to keep the chickens from dying from diseases. Of course these factories are not “adding” anymore than they need to. Truly, there are “No-Added Antibiotics”. The best place to source your chickens are places where you know where they came from. So, what will you try first, a local chicken or egg? Hopefully both.
